Arch-support.



W. E. PARMELEE.

ARCH SUPPORT. APPLICATLON FILED APR.22; 1914.

1,146,899. Patented July 20, 1915.

ifl zlzfisses: [22 U622 i02 when, m,

Per %J@ 274 TNT WALTER E. PARMELEE, 0F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

ARCH-$UPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20 1915.

Application filed April 22, 1914. Ser'el No. 833,787.

which the following is a specification;

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the class specified adapted to give comfort to the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to 4 provide a support for weak joints or broken arches of the foot, which is of sufficient rigidity to accomplish this purpose without the use of metal, as metal often causes discomfiture, is too rigid and has a tendency to break, thereby injuring the foot as well as ordinarily being too clumsy and heavy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot support adapted to hold in their relatively proper and normal positions the tarsal and metatarsal joints of the foot.

To theseends and also to improve gen erally on devices of the class specified the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device with the covering thereon. Fig. 2 is a bot tom view without the covering. Fig. is a top view without the covering. Fig. t is a perspective view of the strip.

The device is of the general type of a device commonly known as an arch supporter.

Referring to the drawings as an illu tratcd embodiment of the lnvention, a strip of material 1 as shown in {leis made of suitable material such as leather of sufficicnt thickness to hold its shape and be somewhat still yet flexible for the comfort of the wearer. The strip -1' is preferably shaped to fit the arch under the tarsal joint of the foot and adapted to extend forward a trifle beyond the metatarsal joint of the foot. A substantially rigid member 2 made preferably of solo leather and cut to proper shape is suitably secured to the strip -1 under the main arch or' tarsal joint of the foot, being located somewhat on the inner side of the strip -1, as the drawing shows a support for the left foot. The lower surface of the member --2- is substantially in the same plane as the respective ends of the strip -l. A member -3- also substantially rigid preferably made of sole leather but of less thickness than the member 2-,-

is suitably secured to the strip -1- and preferably on top thereof, as shown in Fig.

3, so as to be located beneath the metatarsal joint of the foot.

It will be seen that by reinforcing the strip 1 by the member's-2- and 3- that the support itself, where thus reinforced, is substantially rigid but, where not thus reinforced, is flexible for the comfort of the wearer. The members 2- and -3 are relatively adjacent each other but far enough apart so that the support itself is flexible between the said members 2 and -3- and may be twisted or bent to comply with the action of the foot and relative movements of the sole of the shoe. The members ---2-- and 3 are preferably cemented to the strip -'l.- and a suitable covering of smooth leather covers the Whole support. The support itself is not intended to be per: manently secured in the shoe'like an inner sole, but is used as customary arch supportcrs are used.

The device has no metal in its construction whichmight break and cause discomfiture, but is light and durable and provides proper "rigidity and yet is sulilciently flexible at the proper places to insure comfort for the wearer.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A nonmetal arch support consisting of a strip of suit material shaped to fit the foot, :1 more rigid member secured to said strip under the tarsal joint of the foot, and a member more rigid than said strip secured thereto under the metatarsal joint of the foot, the parts being so arranged that said support is rigid at the reinforced sectionsthereof, but flexible between the reinforced sections for the comfort of the wearer, suhstantiallyas described.

2. 'A- nonmietallic arch support consisting of a strip of flexible material, shaped to fit the arches of the foot, said strip being reinforced under the tarsal and metatarsal forced sections for the comfort of the joints .of the foot by a member more rigid wearer, substantially as described; a i 10 than the strip'itself, so arranged that the In testimony whereof I affixmy signature/ support is substantially rigid where thus in presence of two witiie'sse'si 1,; reinforced, said reinforced sections of said WALTER EWPARMELEEK support being relatively adjacent each other Witnesses:v .l 1 but arranged sufliciently apart to allow the DAVID R. WOODHOUSE,

support to be flexible between said rein- JAMES E. PROUDMAN. 

